Info

"Ghana Summer School' is a programme providing free summer education for poor children in the Ashanti region.

Lasting three months, the school will offer core subjects to over 150 children who cannot afford the fees of traditional summer education in the region.

Staffed by international volunteers, the children will be taught English, Maths, Science and Sport to help them study towards their exams, and keep up with their peers.

Ghana Summer School will be open to children aged 8-16, whether or not they currently attend school, in order to encourage those children who cannot afford formal education to attend.
Volunteer

If you would like to contribute in our efforts to offer summer education to disadvantaged children in the area, we would love for you to join us. Teaching experience is not required, just an enthusiasm for communicating and having fun with children.

Light for Children will offer comprehensive support during your programme, and you will be placed with other volunteers with whom you will be able to socialise and travel with at weekends. The programme will be worthwhile, varied and include an end of School show where the children will showcase their talents in the forms of songs, poems and other performances, which you will assist in and will be worked towards throughout the summer.
Introduction weekend

Daily activities

* Teaching English, Maths, Science and Sports to children of varying ages
* Playing games and interacting with the children
* Offering one on one support when required to children with special needs
* Organising lesson plans with other volunteers
* Organising an end of term show

Host Family and home stay

Your home stay is likely to be the highlight of your visit to Ghana. There is no better way to learn first hand about life in Ghana than by living among the local people and participating in their lives through helping with chores, cooking and other activities, and being treated as a member of the family. The friendships made while living with a family can last a lifetime.

You will be part of the host family, sharing their food and living as they live. Most Ghanaians live in small, simple houses; living conditions may be very basic; learning to adapt is part of the pleasure of living in a foreign land, and these will be the memories that will stay with you.
Living Conditions

Ghanaian houses are simple. You will find a separate sleeping room and sometimes a separate living room. Your host family will have electricity and running water, but be prepared to take baths from buckets. Normally, you will get a simple room with a bed. Sometimes it is possible that you will have to share your room with another volunteer, although 90% of the time you will be furnished a separate room. We recommend bringing a mosquito net.
Food and accommodation

LiFoC will arrange accommodation (with host families) and food for volunteers. Placements will be within 10-20 miles of communication, transport and medical facilities.

Imported foods are very expensive, so you will eat local produce most of the time. Ghanaian cuisine consists of rice, vegetable stews, maize porridge, and occasional meats. Food is provided twice a day: a light breakfast in the morning (coffee/tea and bread), and an evening meal such as fufu (manioc roots pounded and cooked and formed in a thick paste), kenkey (fermented dough made from maize) or banku (a stiff porridge made from maize) served with rice and fruits/vegetables.

Even though Ghana is considered a very poor country, there will be enough food for you and the whole family. Additionally, you could buy fruits or cookies and share them with your family.
Daily life

Ghanaian families are quite large. There may be grandparents, parents and children living under one roof and sharing the daily activities. As part of this community you should be open and try to help and involve yourself in tasks carried out "at home". Your hosts will be interested in showing you their way of life. Additionally, you could support them by doing the dishes and cleaning your room. Sometimes you might just watch TV or play cards with the whole family.

Younger family members are especially interested in learning more about your family and culture so don't forget to bring some pictures and tell them something about your life. Perhaps you may even get the chance to cook and show how food is prepared in your country.

Most of the families have experience with volunteers and will give you all the necessary advice and support you need to feel comfortable. Some family members will speak English. In case you have any problems or you are not sure how to behave or what to do, feel free to ask them. Additionally, LiFoC staff will visit you on a regular basis. You can address any problems to the office in Kumasi by telephone or E-mail.